heatpump air intake from attic - http://www.hvacmechanic.com/ Forums

Original message

Martin J

70.82.240.156

"heatpump air intake from attic" , posted Tue 13 May 10:54

My home is a 2 story 3000 ft sq brick veneer construction with 15 inch insulation on the attic floor, slanted roof with shingles, constructed in 1975 Montreal, Canada.
The primary heating source is a split system 36000 BTU heat-pump located outdoors with oil furnace back-up in the basement.
To increase the efficiency of the heat-pump I like to use the attic air which is warmer than the outside air especially during cold sunny winter days. Also with this configuration I can extract hot air from the attic during the summer months by just running the heat-pump fan.
To accomplish this I can construct a large wooden box around the heat-pump with a attic chimney type air-intake of the same inside area as the 24 inch fan exhaust on the heat-pump. Which is almost straight up the wall from the heat-pump location.
Q: Has this been tried before?

Replies:

dcdraftworks

68.124.177.169

"It's your house and your laboratory" , posted Mon 26 May 11:41:

I don't see anything wrong with the theory. I'd like to see some drawings. Once you get it drawn up and do the heat load calcs, run it by pro (maybe you have a friend in the business)
If you got the time and the money there is nothing wrong with experimentation.
If it doesn't work the first time (but it will) stick with it, you'll learn a lot and it will keep you out of the bars.

Whatever you do, BE SAFE!

Good Luck, I admire your eco-attitude.

Elmo

[this message was edited by dcdraftworks on Mon 26 May 15:28]

theduke03

24.250.18.179

"Re(1):It's your house and your laboratory" , posted Mon 26 May 12:18

DC, I think you're high.

"My dad was the most feared furnace fighter in Northern Indiana."

dwcaveney

68.124.177.169

"Higher than a witch doctor" , posted Mon 26 May 14:57:

Yea Duke, higher than a witch doctor!
He's been drinking NEAR beer all morning.
Don't worry, he's not going to Massachusetts.

Now, if you don't mind, explain to me why you can't recover heat from the attic, to save 10 tons of greenhouse gas a year?

Because they didn't do that way in school, when gas was $1.10 a gallon?

[this message was edited by dwcaveney on Mon 26 May 15:25]

learner

70.73.177.71

"Re(1):heatpump air intake from attic" , posted Wed 14 May 20:54

Hi,
From Calgary way out West. Your idea is calling for trouble for sure. If you suck attic air it'll draw cold air into the attic thru
soffit vent which also may cause condensation issues for one.

theduke03

24.250.18.179

"Re(1):heatpump air intake from attic" , posted Tue 13 May 17:37

Sounds stupid. Put your ducts back the way they were and leave it alone.

"My dad was the most feared furnace fighter in Northern Indiana."

Jojo98

152.86.133.139

"Re(1):heatpump air intake from attic" , posted Tue 13 May 12:31

Whaa?

Jojo98

152.86.133.139

"Re(1):heatpump air intake from attic" , posted Tue 13 May 12:31

Whaa?